Chappie

2015

US

120 min

15

Directed by: Neill Blomkamp

Cast: Sharlto Copley, Hugh Jackman, Dev Patel, Sigourney Weaver

UK release: 6 March 2015

Weapons developer Deon (Patel) reprogrammes the titular police robot into self-awareness, but then the robot's kidnapped (by Yolandi and Ninja of Die Antwoord) as part of an underworld scheme. Yolandi is believable but Ninja is awful, and despite dynamic action sequences the approach to big themes is simplistic and badly mishandled.

Performance times

Reviews & features

Disappointing third film from Neill Blomkamp that melds Short Circuit and RoboCop

Do androids dream of electric sheep? A question Neill Blomkamp’s third feature (co-written with his wife Terri Tatchell) approaches with a childlike sensibility, often recalling the PG-rated Short Circuit (thankfully minus Fisher Stevens browning-up…